Ice Day part 2

We played so hard today we fell asleep mid-play.

The Great Ice Storm '09

While I'm sure the roads will be clear in another few hours, the city of Dallas was iced in this morning and GolinHarris is having a working from home day. I'm sure after my late night rant last night, everyone is thinking, good for Holly, she can catch up on labeling stuff for Maddy, cleaning the house, reality tv and the likes.

Not quite, it is, after all, my third day back to work and I'm trying to get back into the swing of things, catch up with staff and chat with clients. Both Jim and I have alot to do today and Miss Madelyn is not quite ready for her nap yet and the dogs are running wild. Did I mention, it's COLD (I always thought the Snugli was a joke, but wouldn't it be nice today to not have my hands "stuck" under a blanket)? Jim took her while I fielded a conference call and hopefully, she will play under the sea (her baby einstein gym) while I catch up on reviewing documents.

Either way, she's all bundled up, giggly and cute today. Here's a pic!

Back to work

I'm writing this as we listen to freezing rain hit the window and Maddy still fighting the sleep (first time since she started sleeping through the night). It's like she thinks she's going to miss something, that or we still aren't feeding her enough (36 ozs a day!).

I went back to work this week and am so excited to go back to doing something I love so much, but realized today when I was trying to finish a few emails and projects after 6 p.m. how HARD it will really be to put the computer down, turn off work for a while and focus soley on her.

Of course it doesn't help that I want to finish my book club book, label all of her stuff for day care next week, cook (and eat) dinner, play on my new obsession Facebook, and watch Big Love (or the Bachelor, Survivor, American Idol or other mindless reality tv that takes the edge off). I always thought I was efficient but realize that I will need to focus even more and likely can't do everything (sigh, guess the tv shows will be the first to go). That and learn to live in relative choas. It was one thing when I had two hours every morning during her nap to organize the baby stuff ... now it's everywhere!

I'm certainly in for an interesting adjustment! AND, I don't have any photos to share. I've already heard from Poppy and Grandma Nana that I haven't sent nearly enough pics lately ... so I'll add taking more photos to the above list!

Rolling over???

As all of my friends with kids can atest, I have no earthly idea on milestones for babies. I just get amazed when Maddy hits one, like smiling, cooing or sleeping through the night (she's still at it!). I had to laugh today because we were doing tummy time (well, Maddy was, I was sitting crosslegged), and she lifted one of her legs up and her butt up and was well on her way to rolling over. She just doesn't know what to do with her arm which seems to stop her momentum. She was hollering and wailing and gnashing gums because she knew what she wanted to do (she hates tummy time, she wanted off her tummy), she just couldn't quite get it done.

When I flipped her over, and let her play with her gym she was still mad, and chatted very angrily at me for about five minutes, and then just cooed and played and was happy as happy could be. It just cracked me up, I told Jim, I think that's how I react to new things! It is pretty amazing to actually watch them learn. I'm thinking she's too young to be rolling over, I should look it up in one of the books, but if today was any indication, I think she'll be doing it soon!

Here's another recent picture that has nothing to do with rolling over, but is cute. Note, she DOES have legwarmers on. I LOVE baby legwarmers and Jim always feels it is necessary to make her dance to the Flashdance song when she's in them!

Sleeping through the night!

Last week, we went to Austin to visit friends and family before I go back to work. Maddy did great with the car trip, she slept all the way down. It was a big day of new experiences and new people. That night she slept 9 hours straight.

I was convinced it was a fluke. Low and behold, she did it again the next night. I became convinced it was just the pack and play and Austin. We got home on Friday, and she has slept 9 - 7 ever since. I think it's more than a fluke!

And what timing ... I'm returning to work next week and was wondering how I would do it on 5 hours of sleep and her waking up at 5 a.m. Seems like we have a great schedule now! I can only hope it stays once she starts day care!

This weekend, after her big trip, Maddy was a bit out of sorts and sort of cranky on Saturday. She took a nap on her dad's shoulder and woke up with a bit of bed head and cranky crabby. All of her pictures of late have been of her smiling and joyful, thought we would share this one with you! The bedhead is cute, the crankiness ... even cuter!

I am not a boy

Yesterday, I took Maddy to the Y's nursery while I worked out. It was her first visit and I had to laugh, it was the first time I dressed her in gender neutral clothing and DIDN'T put a bow in her hair. The first question? What is your little boy's name? Here is the outfit ... (and can I just say how much I'm loving her little belly sticking out and her smile???)

She did really well in the nursury while I attempt to lose the last bit of baby weight and get into some sort of exercise routine before I go back to work. The nursery workers held her most of the time and she loved watching the big kids play. I can't wait until spring when all of our neighbor kids are out playing and she can watch them!

One other excited note from yesterday, I found out that I had extra miles and Maddy and I are coming to Ohio for Easter for only $5! We booked the flight yesterday ... YEAH!!!

Talking

Anyone who's seen Maddy in the past week knows that she found her voice. She loves to talk and coo, in fact this morning when I came in from letting the dogs out, I could hear her in her crib talking to her leopard mobile at the top of her lungs.

She seems to have some sort of performance anxiety when we get the camera out though! We've been trying for a week to capture her coos and chatting. Here is a video that sort of captures some talking (it's only in the middle, but the rest is so cute!). It also has some great smiles AND her morning bedhead (one of the cute side effects of having a baby with so much hair!)

Hopefully in the next week or so we can capture Maddy really talking up a storm!

Two month check-up

Today was Madelyn's two month check up. She is a happy, healthy baby who is more verbal than the average two month old and went out of her way to charm both Dr. Dreiling and the nurse. I guess it's not surprising she's a verbal, chatty baby given her parents!!!

She also got her first vaccines. She loved the grape flavored oral vaccine and cooed and charmed her way through that. She did wail and cry through her first three shots but was calm as soon as I picked her up. She's been asleep since the shots and the nurse said she may be irritable and cranky for the next day. We've been so lucky with her sunny diposition, I can hardly believe my smiley, lovey baby will be cranky!

Maddy is proportionately in the 75th percentile for head size, length and body weight (she is 11 lbs, 11 oz!). It's been cold on and off here so I thought I would share a photo of her boots. I love these boots and she look so cute in them!!!

Go Buckeyes!!!

Even though Maddy's Ohio State cheerleader outfit is a little too big, I figured the Buckeyes could use all the luck and cheering they could get tonight. Even though she's a Texan, Madelyn is ALL Buckeye today!!!!



Go Bucks!!!

Happy New Year!

I took a week off the blog to recover from a hideous cold that started on Christmas day. Jim is still battling a sinus infection and sweet Maddy seems to have her first cold. She's a trooper (better than I am!) and still wakes up every morning with a grin. She's a bit stuffy and very clingy, but no fever which is great.

We hope everyone's New Year's Eve celebration was great. Ours was quiet and lovely as we hung out with Maddy, ate green chile stew and watched a movie. I struggled to stay up past midnight, but I made it! New Year's Day was the first day in weeks without plans and naps were in order as well as watching some football. Two glorious, plan-free days.


Maddy is growing so much, I can hardly believe she is only 8 weeks old! She has learned how to kick on the music on her baby gym and she squeals in delight when she changes the music. She is starting to grasp rattles and toys but hasn't quite mastered holding on. She loves to giggle and coo and likes her daddy to play "handsey's" (patty cake) with her. She holds on when you carry her over your shoulder and attempts to clasp her hands together on the bottle when you feed her.


Here are some belated Christmas pictures of Madelyn and our family! First a photo of Maddy's Christmas dress .... dry clean only, a mistake I will not make next year! Followed by our first family Christmas.

And finally, who could resist this Christmas gift?????